However, his rough language betrayed violent thoughts. Although James approached the task at hand with a critical mentality, Las Vegas had a seismic impact on his career. Las Vegas provided him with an exceptional opportunity to experience an aspect of film production he was more or less unacquainted with before. How rare. It was not a box office smash, grossing $31 million in todays dollars, but has become revered as a classic of the genre and a major influence on films from Manns own Heat (1995) to Nicolas Winding Refns 2011 classic Drive., Click here for behind-the-scene gems from the making of Thief and Caans great story about the aftermath of Brians Song.. In 1994 Fleiss told Vanity Fair she was having an affair with her longtime crush, James Caan. In a 1999 interview Caan said of his involvement with the prostituted women working for Fleiss: Hookers? Just a few months later, Caan faced a lawsuit from ex-girlfriend Leesa Anne Rowland, alleging he attacked her in a Los Angeles hotel in May. James Caan, Oscar nominee for 'The Godfather,' dies at 82 - AP NEWS A July 7 obituary in The New York Times of Caan frames the actors violent tendencies as part of his bad boy reputation. Most of his behavior is blamed on his cocaine addiction, which began after the premature death of his sister. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. I said you havent got enough money to make me go to work every day with a director I dont like.. Many well-known actors have trained at the Neighborhood Playhouse over the years, including Caan's "Godfather" co-star Robert Duvall and "Elf" co-star Mary Steenburgen. (Getty Images), Caan's early work included "Red Line 7000," "El Dorado" and "The Rain People. ", At age 16 he moved halfway across the country to attend Michigan State University, where he studied Economics and played football. Bates won an Oscar for the role. charges were dropped the following August. "He said, 'These kids down in Texas, they're doing this film. Its hard to believe that he wont be in the world anymore because he was so alive and daring. He was 82. Entertainment, Caan said that he lived with cocaine addiction after turning to the drug when his sister died from leukemia. The greatest emphasis has been on his role as mobster Sonny Corleone in The Godfather (1972). James Caan Dead at 82: 'The Godfather,' 'Misery - TVLine James Caan, right, with Al Pacino, as brothers Sonny and Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972). He was a famously tricky interview subject, by turns hostile to journalists and refreshingly forthright. The Chicago in Thief is the Chicago of the Green Mill Lounge and Wise Fools Pub, of the alleys behind Wabash Avenue in the Loop, of the intersection of Ashland and Webster, of diners and finished basements and used car lots but its also almost surreal in its beauty, from the consistent use of neon to the sparkling, rain-soaked streets. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. In 1995 he married actress/costume designer Linda Stokes who looks at least a decade younger than him and they divorced in 2016, after filing for divorce three times. James Caan died last Wednesday from an undisclosed cause (Image: Getty Images) In February 2020, he was pictured being wheelchaired around by his son Jacob. By Claire Jimenez(Grand Central, fiction). film world was stunned by the death of actor and filmmaker James Caan, his immortal turn as Sonny Corleone in "The Godfather. There was something I especially liked about it and it was the form that it took. Both of his parents were Jewish immigrants from Germany. What Happened to James Caan on 'Las Vegas'? He Left to Star in Movies Sonny Corleone, a violent and reckless man who conducted many killings, met his own end in one of the most jarring movie scenes in history. I am Joe the boss of my own body, so what the f--- do I have to work for you for?, Caan said Frank never uses a contraction throughout the movie, and speaks in deliberate, measured tones so he is never misunderstood. Seldom unemployed, he traded happily on his 70s persona, particularly playing older and wiser versions of Sonny Corleone, either as mafia bosses, louche gamblers or businessmen with mafia connections in films such as Honeymoon in Vegas (1992), Mickey Blue Eyes (1999), with Hugh Grants British art auctioneer getting mixed up with the mob, City of Ghosts (2002) and Dogville (2003). As at home as Caan felt at the Playboy Mansion, he seems to have felt just as welcome in the magazine's pages. The women he abused will remember a different man than the one widely praised by Hollywood for "being a legend." On July 6, 82-year-old American actor, James Caan, best known for his roles in The Godfather, Misery, and Elf, died from causes that have not yet been made public. Above all, as seen in the many tributes that have been published since his death, he was a generous artist and professional whose work continues to inspire. "It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on . Unfortunately, he passed [] According to E! In 2007, he announced his departure from the show, stating that he was eager to make movies again. All titles are on sale Tuesday. He was most known for playing the "tough guy" character, with notable examples in films like "Mickey Blue Eyes," where he starred alongsideHugh Grant, and "Honeymoon in Vegas," where he appeared oppositeSarah Jessica Parker. End of tweet" (via Twitter). Before he can escape he is cut down by a seemingly endless fusillade of machine-gun fire. In the interview, Caan joked that he only agreed to the one-on-one because Hefner threatened to revoke his mansion privileges, and when asked what drugs he enjoys, he replied, "I take an aspirin now and then, when I've got someone like you to talk to. Caan was well teamed with Genevive Bujold in Claude Lelouchs romance set in the US, Another Man, Another Chance (1977), and with Jane Fonda in the western Comes a Horseman (1978). The actor's rep told The Hollywood Reporter that Caan died Wednesday night at 82, confirming a Twitter post from his family. His character rose to become boss of the Montecito but remained the tough guy who had learned judo in an undercover division of the U.S. government. In 1993, a man named Mark Schwartz died when trying to climb up to the balcony of an apartment where the actor was staying. James Caan, whose indelible, Oscar-nominated performance as Sonny Corleone, the recklessly hotheaded son of Marlon Brando's Mafia don in " The Godfather ," is sure to be remembered as long as. According to Yahoo! It wasnt just women who were the targets of Caans violence and abuse. He alsohad five children, including "Varsity Blues" and "Hawaii Five-O" actor Scott Caan, per Closer Weekly. The latter title chimed with Caan, who was once dubbed the Jewish cowboy because of his earlier participation in rodeos and his ownership of a stable of horses. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Caan was spotted using a walker at a restaurant with friends in California last year after spending some time in a wheelchair as he recovered from back surgery in 2020 +73 View gallery A. He reportedly had back surgery last . Caan never admitted to hurting his co-star, claiming that he worked with a stunt double . A handful of small film roles followed, and Caan finally got his breakthrough in 1966's "El Dorado," Howard Hawks and John Wayne's unofficial remake of their own "Rio Bravo." By the mid-1990s, James Caan was back on top, thanks to a string of hits and notable films like "Misery" and the 1992 romantic comedy "Honeymoon in Vegas." J ames Caan is showing off his war wounds. A 1999 article in The Guardian states the LAPD arrested Caan at the time and interrogated him for 10 hours over Schwartz death. At times Caan gave the impression he wished to be seen as an artist, not a tough guy. HOLLYWOOD (AP) - The sister of actor James Caan and president-chief operating officer of the actor's film and television production company has died at the age of 38, a spokesman said. There are some film stars for whom the frisson of fame and the exultation of acting are not enough. When we erase the word woman, we erase womens material reality. I had a couple of guys show me all the stuff, it was unbelievable, the stuff these guys could do, said Caan And I pulled it off and [made a convincing thief] and I was really proud of myself and so were my parents.. Check out what clicked this week in entertainment. In 2013 Caan told the AV Club that he did the film as a favor to its executive producer, James L. Brooks. The completed film, titled "Minkow" at the time, premiered at the Berlin Film Festival that same year but ended up on the shelf until nearly a decade later, when it was released quietly under the name "Con Man." Caan died from a heart attack in early July. Theres no isnt or wasnt with this guy. Thats when I want to choke somebody.. Published July 7, 2022 10:51 a.m. PDT. Frank is a hard-talking tough guy, pressed into one last job by a dangerous mobster (Robert Prosky), but Mann and Caan give him vast reserves of pain and trauma just under the surface. And if youre my girl and someones smart to you, Ill slap him in the mouth. He also told Rolling Stone: The one thing that gets me most is having my intelligence underestimated. On 26-3-1940 James Caan (nickname: James) was born in The Bronx, New York, United States. James Caan was a bona fide A-lister in the 1970s, but in the years following "The Godfather" he took a more eclectic route with his stardom, acting in films like Sam Peckinpah's ninjas-vs-spies mash-up "The Killer Elite" and the turn-of-the-century caper "Harry and Walter Go to New York." Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. According to the death certificate obtained by TMZ, Caan died from a heart attack and coronary artery disease. If Im asked about the best movies ever made in Chicago, the most CHICAGO of Chicago movies . James Caan obituary | Movies | The Guardian "The Godfather" would sit at the top of nearly any actor's resume, and rightly so, but James Caan had other, less heralded favorites. On July 6, 82-year-old American actor, James Caan, best known for his roles in The Godfather, Misery, and Elf, died from causes that have not yet been made public. Let's put it that way. I just gave them all the cocaine they wanted. (Fleiss was convicted of Federal Tax Evasion in 1996 and served seven years in prison.). (Michael Kovac), The tweet was completed withCaan's famous Twitter phrase, "End of tweet.". Even at the end, when father and son have reconciled in time to save Christmas, there's the sense that Walter still isn't a big fan of Buddy's whole thing. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Coppola had to fight the studio over everything, including the casting of Caan and newcomer Al Pacino as mob sons Sonny and Michael Corleone. Despite Coppolas fears he had made a flop, the 1972 release was an enormous critical and commercial success and brought supporting actor Oscar nominations for Caan, Duvall and Pacino. Al Pacino called Caan, A great actor. "I've got 14 screws in my left shoulder, six in my right, and three in my elbow," he boasts. I would love to do a real character thing. ", After his time in the proverbial desert in the 1980s, James Caan never stopped working, and in fact had several projects in the works that will now be released posthumously. Caan threw a billy club at Russos head, bit his hands, and lifted him off the sidewalk with a kick actions Russo claims were not part of the choreography. FILE - James Caan attends the 2016 Summer TCA "Hallmark Event" on July 27, 2016, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Caan, whose roles included "The Godfather," "Brian's Song" and "Misery," died Wednesday, July 6, 2022, at age 82. . In Carol Morleys Out of Blue (2018), an adaptation of Martin Amiss 1997 novel Night Train, he was the intimidating father of a murdered astrophysicist daughter, and his movie work continued up to the time of his death. I mean, I woke up and this whole thing had happened while I was asleep. After just a year at Michigan State, James Caan returned to New York City and enrolled at Hofstra University on Long Island. James Caan Ditched 'The Godfather' Screening Due to Cut Scene | IndieWire Godfather actor James Caan dies 82 | Daily Mail Online While some actors don't like watching themselves on screen, James Caan was not one of them. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. "I was very fortunate that I was able to do whatever the hell I wanted to do, so I put it together right away," he said. Caans mistreatment of women, including those whom he is acccused of beating and sexually abusing, only fueled his image in the media. James was best known for playing Sonny Corleone in "The Godfather," which won him both Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). "It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6," the family wrote in a tweet. Caan was best known for his role as Sonny Corleone in " The Godfather " and "The Godfather II," but before the iconic film series . Claire Jimenez's 'What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez' is our must-read new Caan starred in several television series including "Naked City" and "The Untouchables" before landing a film role in "Funny Lady" opposite Barbra Streisand, giving him the chance to showcase his adaptability (via IMDb). There was something really strange and enticing about the script for Thief, James Caan now recalls. Entertainment, Caan said that he lived with cocaine addiction after turning to the drug when his sister died from leukemia. But it sure looked really bad. Caan didnt take a starring role in a TV series until 2003 but his first effort, Las Vegas, was an immediate hit. While studying at Hofstra, he became interested in acting and was soon taken on by the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York, where he studied under Sanford Meisner, whose technique was allied to the method. A few years earlier, when he was still bankable, Caan had turned down three Oscar winners, M*A*S*H, Kramer vs Kramer (it was such middle-class, bourgeois baloney) and One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. "But yeah, I mean, there's a few that I'm extra proud of. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Caans comeback became entrenched with a difficult role in Rob Reiners Misery (1990) he spends most of the movie bedridden and doped as a seriously injured writer kept captive by his No 1 fan (Kathy Bates, who won the best actress Oscar). 'Godfather' Actor James Cann Dies at 82 - NBC New York "Pineapple Street," byJenny Jackson (Pamela Dorman Books, fiction): Three women in a wealthy Brooklyn family navigate the absurd life of the one percent: Darley, the eldest daughter, who chose motherhood over her career; Sasha, an outsider who married in; andGeorgiana, the youngest, who finds herself in a doomed romantic entanglement. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. FILE - James Caan attends the 2016 Summer TCA "Hallmark Event" on July 27, 2016, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Caan, whose roles included "The Godfather," "Brians Song" and "Misery," died Wednesday, July 6, 2022, at age 82. Even when playing a bedridden romance novelist in "Misery," Rob Reiner's 1990 Stephen King adaptation, Caan's physicality plays an important part. James Caan, the curly-haired tough guy known to movie fans as the hotheaded Sonny Corleone of "The Godfather" and to television . LOS ANGELES -. I'm frustrated. The film critic Pauline Kael wrote of Caan at that stage in his career that hes not all of a piece as a performer: hes never quite himself you feel hes concealing himself rather than revealing a character. We had a scene where he goes to Malibu [to be with his family] at the end, but Michael decided against it, said Caan. Best known by the younger generation for his roles as Buddy the Elf's (played by Will Ferrell) cranky father in the movie "Elf" and the temperamental Sonny Corleone in "The Godfather" franchise, the older generation recognizes Caan's versatility in a wide range of roles such asPaul Sheldon(via Screen Rant), an author turned prisoner in the movie "Misery," to Brian Piccolo in ABC's "Brian's Song," per TCM. The Associated Press wrote: an acquaintance [of Caans] fell eight stories to his death [from a fire escape] while trying to reach an apartment where Caan was staying. The New York Times reported that at the time, [t]he police questioned him at length. Caan told the police he was asleep when it happened, and the death was deemed accidental. An acquaintance of Caan, Schwartz fell while attempting to reach the unit. Caan, who was nominated for an Oscar, was perfect as the hedonistic and volatile heir apparent to the Corleone family, whose bloody ways end in his own death. Cookies help us deliver our Services. "Jimmy was one of the greatest," Del Piano said in a statement. Even offscreen, his life was the stuff of legend: An athlete turned actor turned Little League coach turned actor again; a fixture at the Playboy mansion; a movie mobster who all too often was mistaken for the real thing; and an unlikely star on Twitter. He even popped up briefly in a 2005 episode of the E! JAMES CAAN's amazing facelift - Before and After - YouTube Although presented as the moral centre of the film, Caans character, Jonathan E, is as sadistic as everyone else around him. Following a brief stage career, he moved to Hollywood. Born March 26, 1939, in New York City, Caan was the son of a kosher meat wholesaler. Where does he go? Always wanted to be like him. Caan was not afraid to study or to work hard, but it was clear early on that neither the life of an academic or a meatpacker was for him. James Caan has died at age 82 | CTV News Scott Caan's injury was written into the script by the show's creators and blamed on his partner, O'Loughlin. Actor Scott Caan, the son of the late actor James Caan, has filed a petition to manage his father's estate in new court documents obtained by The Blast. Although he received professional help and was cured of the addiction, he was unemployable in Hollywood. Soon after The Godfather, Caan was wallowing in violence again as the embittered hero of Rollerball (1975). The women he abused will remember a different man than the one widely praised by Hollywood for "being a legend.". Las Vegas had practically reignited the actor's career, and through it, James garnered an armada of new fans. In the 1981 Rolling Stone interview, for example, when he claimed his first wife, Dee Jay Mattis, only allowed him to see his daughter, Tara, once in 10 years, he said, I just send the cheque every month. (Already did this? This cool and calculating facet of Caans was exploited by Howard Hawks in two movies, as a daredevil racing driver in Red Line 7000 (1965) and as the laid-back Mississippi, John Waynes gunslinging sidekick in El Dorado (1967). Caan was asleep when this happened . James Caan had an acting career that spanned over 60 years in which he played various roles. Behind the scenes, Caan and his character were not too far apart, as Ferrell once noted on a 2018 episode of "The Late Late Show with James Corden." He survived a car crash in 1985. I am self-employed, says Frank. Other later films included Flesh and Bone, Bottle Rocket and Mickey Blue Eyes. He introduced himself to a new generation playing Walter, the workaholic, stone-faced father of Buddys Will Ferrell in Elf., Adam Sandler, who acted with him in Bulletproof and Thats My Boy tweeted that he, Loved him very much. James Caan Dead: Hollywood Pays Tribute - The Hollywood Reporter But when we chatted via Zoom on Monday, helooked strong and healthy, was brimming with good spirit and was hurling enough expletives to make Sonny Corleone blush. He says, I am, not Im, so its, I am the last guy on Earth you want to f---- with. At one point Michael said, Why are you talking so deliberately and slowly? and I said, Because I never have to repeat myself. , Frank is a master thief who uses an arsenal of heavy and complicated tools such as a 200-pound magnetic drill, and Caan said he had to make it all look real while technical advisers, including some former notorious thieves, looked on. James Caans comeback became entrenched with his role in Rob Reiners Misery (1990), in which he spends most of the movie bedridden and kept captive by his No 1 fan, played by Kathy Bates.